Kisa Foundation USA is a non profit organization based in Washington DC organized in 2009 to help fight poverty, disease and lack of education in Uganda. We believe the best way to pursue these goals is through development of self-sustaining, income-generation activities.

Kisa Foundation would rather make loans than gifts. While some grants and donations will be provided as seed money, for capital expenditures, and for scholarships, we aim to support projects through our revolving loan fund that will be self-sustaining and income generating. By repaying loans and paying interest, each project we sponsor can contribute to future projects.

For example, rather than donating books or desks to Kisa Primary School, we are lending them money to start a poultry and egg farm that can provide a permanent stream of income to the school. We provided seed money and in-kind donations to start the Uganda Online Art Consortium, providing a way for Ugandan artists to sell their artwork over the internet and at the same time to generate funds for charitable art projects in Uganda. We will evaluate any request for support in terms of its potential to be self sustaining and income-producing.

KFUSA accepts donations from individuals and organizations for our revolving loan fund as well as for specific projects. We also accept loans which can be earmarked for specific projects or individuals.

History

KFUSA originated in visits to Uganda by Tom Herriman and Gretchen Donart in 2007. Tom was recruited by Llwanga Llwanga, to be a volunteer at Kisa Primary School in Nansana Uganda. Lwanga is a founder and longtime benefactor of the school, which is dedicated to educating and caring for orphans and children of poor families. About half the 400 students at Kisa pay zero or reduced school fees.
Tom and Gretchen helped raise funds to build a new kitchen at the school, and to pay teachers salaries. With Llwanga's support, KFUSA was organized to continue the work that he started and to continue to broaden the Kisa Primary School project and other projects aimed at benefiting Ugandan children. Llwanga serves as Chairman Emeritus of KFUSA Board of Directors.
KFUSA projects include:

Rakai Community Media;

Uganda Online Art Consortium

Uganda New Entrepreneurs Network

Building a new kitchen at Kisa Primary School

Helping finance an egg production facility at Kisa Primary School to provide food for the children as well as cash income for the school;

Board Secretary; Gretchen works for Service Employees International Union as a communications manager.

Tom Herriman

Founder and Executive Director; former journalist, union organizer and general contractor.

Peter Kibanyi

Treasurer; Peter is completing a Masters degree in Public Health from George Washington University. He lives in Chicago where he is active in the Ugandan Community. He plans to spend much of his working life in Uganda after he completes graduate work.

Jimmy Kibuuka

Jimmy is Director of Kisa Primary School in Nansana, Uganda, and the elected Local Council Chairman for Nansana West. He is also on the Board of Directors of St. Joseph's Secondary School in Nansana. He studied at Makerere University and Kyambogo Polytechnic, and worked for several NGOs before helping to found and guide Kisa Primary School. He is also a skilled mason and carpenter and headed his own construction firm for several years. Jimmy built many of the buildings at Kisa PS and at Kisa's farm.

Llwanga Llwanga

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Llwanga is a former University of Washington Math teacher, widely known tennis coach, and long-time benefactor of Uganda children and schools.

Peter Meyer

Board Member; Pete spent four years teaching at a Muslim boys' secondary school in Northern Nigeria with a program called Teachers for West Africa. He still visits Africa frequently. He is a former history teacher in the Boston public schools. Pete believes it is crucial for the U.S. to help African countries to develop.

Rhoda Nalubega

Board Member; Rhoda is Senior Librarian at the Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, in Kampala, Uganda. She earned bachelor and masters degrees at Makerere University, and pursued graduate library science studies at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Steve Pflasterer

Board Member; Steve Pflasterer is a successful real estate broker in Washington DC. In the past few years he has been directing a complete re-design of his 19th century row House in the Columbia Heights Neighborhood where his collection of contemporary U.S. and African art is displayed. Steve has also worked as a teacher of the deaf and as an interior landscape designer. He volunteered to help hang artwork for Uganda Art Consortium's first Washington DC show in 2009, and ever since has been an active supporter and promoter Kisa Foundation USA and our work in Uganda.